Fall is finally here and Sunset Foods is celebrating the season in style! On Saturday, October 22, the store is hosting its community Fall Festival Weekend with a multiple fun, educational, and delicious seasonal events. With so many events happening in one weekend, Sunset’s Fall Festival is sure to have something for the whole family. Sunset encourages you to mark your calendars, because this is one celebration you won’t want to miss.

Just in time for Halloween, Sunset is hosting a pumpkin carving at all stores from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This family-friendly event is a great opportunity for customers to be creative while they practice their pumpkin carving skills for just $5 per pumpkin. Whether customers want their pumpkins to be cute or spooky, this event is for everyone who enjoys Halloween.

Nothing says fall quite like delicious caramel apples. Come watch how this seasonal sweet treat is made and enjoy one (or two) of your own! Sunset’s Bakery is hosting its Caramel Apple Dipping day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. so be sure to stop by any of our stores to participate!

If you love live music, craft beer, or great food, then mark your calendar for Saturday, September 17th, and don’t miss Sunset Food’s Barbecue, Rhythm, and Brews! This unique event will take place from 11 am to 4 pm at Sunset’s Libertyville location. Music and beer are each great on their own, but they are even better when enjoyed together!

This year’s exceptional beer selection will feature a variety of domestic and international brews and delicious foods from Sunset's Grill and Smokehouse

Live music for Rhythm and Brews will be provided by Phil Baron and the Dave Herrero Blues Band.

Admission for the Beer Tasting area of Rhythm and Brews is $10 per person. Guests must be 21 or older to consume alcohol and should be prepared to show ID.

We’re kicking off a new weekend cheese tasting series that offers the opportunity to learn about dozens of delectable cheeses while getting the chance to sample them all.

This series is much more than just a tasting event. It’s a grand tour with some of the best artisanal guides in the business. Guests are invited to explore Sunset’s wide range of high-quality cheeses and talk with cheese experts.

The wide array of cheeses showcased each week will include plenty of the best quality international and domestic varieties. We’ll have creamy and flavorful options from Ireland’s Kerrygold, France’s Champs-Élysées, Italy’s Isola, and Spain’s Manchego. Our experts will also feature savory local and domestic offerings including Wisconsin Artisan Cheese, La Bottega Di Belgioioso, and Sartori cheeses.

Join us Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to enjoy this free event! It all kicks off September 10 at Sunset’s Highland Park location, September 17 at our Northbrook location, September 24 at our Lake Forest location, October 8 at our Long Grove location, and October 22 at our Libertyville location.

At Sunset Foods, Labor Day means lobster! After all, what better way to reward the efforts of those who work than by serving them sweet, tender, and succulent lobster?

Just in time for the holiday weekend, Sunset is hosting a four day lobster sale at all its stores. The sale begins September 1 and will continue through September 5. The Maine Event only happens once a year and is one no seafood lover will want to miss!

Sunset's Seafood Department will fly in Live Maine lobsters fresh daily to ensure quality and flavor. Fully cooked lobsters will also be available for added convenience. The Maine Event offers Sunset customers a perfect opportunity to end the summer with a bang.

In addition to the high-quality lobster, Sunset Foods will have everything else required for a traditional New England lobster dinner available during the event. This includes a number of delicious, freshly prepared side dishes offered à la carte. Make sure to break out the bibs this Labor Day!

Supplies for the Maine Event are limited. Due to high demand, those wishing to buy lobster should pre-order to ensure availability. To do so, call a Sunset Foods Fish Department Directly.

Sunset Foods is excited to announce that it will be hosting a Hatch Chile Fest August 19-21. Hatch Chiles are grown exclusively in Hatch, New Mexico and are famous for their unique flavor and well-balanced spiciness. Hatch Chiles are also exceptionally versatile and are an essential ingredient in a wide variety of authentic Southwestern dishes.

During the Hatch Chile Fest, Sunset Foods will be roasting fresh Hatch chiles outside three of its stores. Guests can enjoy the perfectly cooked chiles plain or can take them home to use in any recipe calling for green chiles. The roasting will take place from 11 am to w pm and will occur at Sunset’s Northbrook location on Friday, August 19th, at its Lake Forest and Libertyville locations on Saturday, August 20th, and at its Highland Park and Long Grove locations on Sunday, August 21st.

Sunset will also be preparing several dishes made with Hatch chiles during the event. These dishes include Hatch Pepper Jack Bread, Hatch Chile and Cheese Quesadillas, Hatch Chile Shrimp Relleno, and Hatch Chile Salsa. All of these delicious items and fresh Hatch chiles will be available at all 5 Sunset locations during the Hatch Chile Fest.

Fall is here and you know what that means- PUMPKIN RECIPES!! Everyone loves the classic pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, but that's hardly all that pumpkin is good for. More adventurous than typical pumpkin desserts, these brownies are deliciously decadent and will most definitely put you and your family in the fall spirit.

Nothing hits the spot when it’s cold out quite like a hearty soup, and our Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup fits the bill perfectly. This velvety soup is creamy without being too heavy and is loaded with savory flavor. Even better, the addition of wild rice turns this dish into a complete meal. This soup can also be easily modified to suit your needs. Have some beans or peas you need to use up? Go ahead and chuck them in the pot! Want the soup to be gluten-free? Just make sure to use gluten-free stock or bouillon, and you’re good to go!

This week's recipe: Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Why We Like ItLet’s face it: no one want’s to put much effort into cooking right after Thanksgiving, but no one really wants to eat reheated leftovers for a week either. That’s where this soup comes in! Our Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup is a great way to use up some of that leftover turkey without spending your whole evening making dinner. Since the turkey is already cooked, just about all you have to do to prepare this soup is chop a few vegetables and throw them in a pot.

Thanksgiving is a holiday steeped in tradition. It’s a day filled with family and with delicious dishes that have been handed down for generations. In most households, turkey is the entrée of choice on this special, festive, and food-centric holiday. In fact, for many, it’s not really Thanksgiving if there isn’t a freshly roasted turkey on the table. That said, turkey is a dish that intimidates many; even those with a considerable amount of culinary experience may not be confident in their ability to cook a turkey to perfection. In this article, we’ve put together plenty of tips for preparing the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. The information below is based on the considerable experience of Sunset’s skilled staff, and is sure to make your holiday easier and more delicious than ever.

Fall is known for its warm spices and its cozy flavors, and this week’s recipe is the perfect side for crisp autumn nights. Not only is this recipe seasonally appropriate, it’s also healthful and packed with nutrition. This light and filling salad is also easy to make and only requires a few ingredients; with quick recipes like this one, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful fall weather while it lasts.

Some people wait all year for corn season, and for good reason! Canned and frozen corn simply cannot compare to the flavor and texture of fresh corn straight off the cob. Still, plain grilled or roasted corn can get dull after a while. If you’re looking for a new twist on corn, give this fresh and exciting corn salsa a try. Sweet and savory, refreshing and just a tad spicy—this salsa has a little bit of everything. Make it with our simple homemade pita chips for a spectacular summer salsa scoop!

This week’s recipe features sweet and succulent peaches, but not in a way you might expect. These elegantly simple crostini stacks are bursting with fresh summer flavor, require only a handful of ingredients, and can be prepared in minutes. Great as an appetizer or a light lunch, these slightly sweet yet delectably savory crostini stacks are a perfectly balanced summer dish.

With summer in full swing, fresh fruits and vegetables are ripe and delicious, and sweet, juicy strawberries aren’t just for desserts! They brighten up this spinach salad and pair perfectly with crunchy candied walnuts, creamy, tangy goat’s cheese, and a beautiful homemade poppy seed dressing. This salad is packed with a ton of bold, but complementary, flavors that will have you going back for seconds and thirds!

Almost nothing is as delicious and refreshing as ice cream on a hot, summer day. Unfortunately, ice cream isn’t ideal for those looking to eat lighter and to reduce the amount of fat in their diets. That’s where this incredible cherry vanilla sherbet comes in. This wonderful ice cream alternative is bursting with fresh cherries, and because it is made with Greek yogurt and soy cream, is a sweet treat that you don’t need to feel guilty about.

Next time you’re in the mood for Mexican, make your own delicious tacos at home with this quick and simple recipe. Filled with the flavors of Sunset’s Certified Angus ground beef, spicy taco seasoning, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and chunky guacamole, these tacos are perfect for summer and are sure to add excitement to your next meal.

When an island getaway just isn’t in the cards for your summer holidays, bring the flavors of the Caribbean right to your dinner table with this citrus and spice marinated chicken bursting with the zesty brightness of fresh ginger, orange, lime, and green chili. The chicken is paired with a delicious array of grilled vegetables. Together, the bold chicken and the colorful vegetables make a perfect summer meal that is as easy to make as it is to enjoy. If you listen closely, you just might hear the ocean as you dine!

Sticky barbeque ribs are one of the best reasons to get your hands and fingers dirty this summer, but even the perfect pork ribs need a delicious side dish! This double dill potato salad is just the right combination of fresh herbs and creamy dressing, with the tang and crunch of red onions and dill pickles. You can even pull out this recipe for the next backyard barbeque or poolside potluck, because it’s sure to pair well with any meat you’re throwing on the grill.

Sausages are easy to throw on the grill and are always a crowd pleaser, but instead of the traditional sausage on a bun again, why not try something a little more sophisticated? Serve these tasty sausage skewers as appetizers at your next summer barbeque, or just get the whole family involved for tonight’s dinner by letting them build their own skewers. They don’t take much time or effort to assemble, but they’re stacked with gorgeous colors and bold flavors, from savory sausage, sundried tomato, and tortellini to soft bocconcini and fresh basil. Delizioso!

Every Saturday from May 31 to June 28, all who want to enjoy summer samples and master the art of a great backyard barbeque can find everything they need at Sunset Foods’ Thrill of the Grill Events.

The weekly events, held from 11 AM to 3 PM Saturdays at every Sunset Foods’ location will provide barbeque lovers the chance to sample the latest in all-natural meats, including brats, bacon sausage, chicken, beef, and ribs. Selected artisan food producers will be on hand to discuss the latest in grilling techniques, and not only will attendees be able to sample succulent grilled fare, but they can also find the perfect marinade, condiments, and sides.

Learn about the latest all-natural, nitrate and nitrite-free innovations in sausage with samples from Big Fork and Gilbert’s Craft Sausages, create the perfect steak with Certified Angus Beef, or pick up some Farmland All-Natural Smoked Ribs, which will be smoked on site. Poultry lovers can sample Miller Amish Country Chicken, or Bliniski’s casing-free chicken sausage.

Grill enthusiasts can enter to win a one of five Weber Genesis grills and $200 worth of Certified Angus Beef at Sunset’s Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Long Grove, or Northbrook locations, where the Thrill of the Grill events are being held.

Craving spicy buffalo chicken wings with a creamy, tangy blue cheese dipping sauce… But don’t want the mess of sticky fingers or the hassle of deep-frying chicken? Well here’s an alternative you’ll be happy you found. We’ve taken the same delicious ingredients but placed them in a fresh, crunchy salad, and used tender, moist grilled chicken breast as a lighter, healthier choice. Okay, it’s a little indulgent, but salads don’t have to be boring. And the rich, contrasting flavors are sure to satisfy your food desire and wow your taste buds.

The burger is a barbeque classic but if you’re craving more sophisticated fare, this upscale twist on the humble cheeseburger is it! The recipe itself is simple to prepare but full of flavor with toppings — crisp bacon, arugula, creamy, melted Brie, and caramelized pears with just a hint of cinnamon — that harmonize together in surprising ways.

With summer on the way, it’s out with heavy comfort foods and in with light, vibrant dishes full of bright colors and fresh flavors. This week’s recipe features sockeye salmon, known for its deep red flesh and considered to have the richest flavor of all the varieties. Full of vitamin D and omega-3s, this wild Alaska salmon is a delicious and heart-healthy choice, containing even more nutrients than other kinds of salmon.

Whether your graduate is earning a high school diploma or an advanced degree, such achievement calls for celebration, and these charming dessert treats are just the thing to cap your party off right. Rich chocolate makes these cupcakes delectably decadent, and the vanilla buttercream and edible mortar board toppers are sure to move you to the head of the class!

Breakfast in bed is a Mother’s Day classic, and an extra special way to show you really care. This year, instead of reaching for the frying pan or waffle maker, start the day off with this bright, fresh, and lighter breakfast option that tastes as gorgeous as it looks. Creamy, cool Greek yogurt is layered with mom’s favorite fresh fruit and topped with crunchy, maple-sweetened homemade granola and a little lemon zest for a refreshing zip.

Derby Day calls for mint juleps in silver cups, fantastic hats, and barbeque! Pecan pie is the perfect end to the charm of a Kentucky Derby themed party or meal.Try our healthier dark chocolate take on the classic pecan recipe. You'll love it so much, you'll make this updated traditional Southern dessert all year long!

There are many simple ways to help our planet, and it’s not just about turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or using reusable shopping bags. Buying your food locally helps support your community and local economy, and also reduces the amount of pollution created when products are transported in from afar. This Earth Day you can feel great about serving up a more sustainable meal with this recipe, featuring delicious, local ingredients, like Miller Amish Country chicken breasts and fresh herbs from The Herbal Gardens, all of which can be bought at your local Sunset Foods.

Delicate and sweet, these hot cross muffins are a real treat and something different for the Easter Bunny to serve up this year. You can also experiment with different combinations of dried fruit or add in chocolate chips!

Whether you’re preparing your own Seder dinner this Passover or attending one elsewhere, you might just start a new dessert tradition with this sweet matzo treat. Crunchy toffee coated matzo and almonds are layered with rich semi-sweet chocolate to create a truly delectable and unique addition to your traditional Passover meal.

This week’s recipe: Chocolate Matzo Toffee Crunch

Why we like it:

This dessert is incredibly simple and requires just a few ingredients, so it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, but will definitely become a new Passover favorite!

Ingredients:

2 cups coarsely crumbled matzo (approx. 4 sheets)

1 ¾ cups sliced almonds

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

2 tbsp water

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Crumble your matzo into a large bowl (about 4 sheets for 2 cups).

Add your sliced almonds and mix them together. Set the bowl aside for later.

To a medium-sized saucepan, add your butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. The color should turn golden brown, and the syrup will start to look frothy and bubbly. Keep stirring for 1-2 minutes and then remove from the heat.

Immediately drizzle over the matzo and almond mixture in the bowl, stirring together as you go to incorporate all the syrup.

Spread the matzo mixture evenly onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden and smelling like toffee. Be careful to not let it brown too much.

Take the baking sheet out of the oven and turn off the heat. Sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the toffee crunch.

Place the baking sheet back in the oven with the heat off and let sit for 1-2 minutes, until the chocolate chips look glossy and soft.

Remove the baking sheet and, using a heatproof spatula, spread the chocolate chips into an even layer of chocolate on top of the toffee crunch.

Place the tray in the refrigerator and leave until the chocolate hardens completely.

Break the chocolate matzo toffee crunch into pieces by hand. Don’t go smaller than bite-size or it’ll just be messy to eat.

From the flaky, melt-in-your mouth pastry to the creamy, savory filling of tangy goat cheese with sautéed leeks and fresh thyme, you’d swear this tart could have come straight from a bistro in Paris if you hadn’t just made it yourself!

If you’re tired of making the same old brownies time after time and need a new recipe to add to your dessert collection, then these white chocolate and cranberry blondies are just the thing! They’re deliciously sweet, but because they’re made with white chocolate, the taste is lighter and more subtle than classic brownies. And don’t forget the cranberries! They give a fruity, slightly tart bite to counteract the richness of the white chocolate, and knowing you’re getting some of your daily dose of Vitamin E doesn’t hurt either!

Tired of always using your slow cooker for the same few meals? Why not use it to make lasagna? This slow cooker lasagna is rich and tasty, filled with Italian sausage, three kinds of cheese, and a variety of classic herbs. Not only is this dish so delicious, using the slow cooker is more energy efficient than the oven, and it can be left to cook all afternoon without having to check if your cheese is burning!

There’s nothing better than a delicious twist on a classic dish, and this BBQ chicken version of a pulled pork sandwich definitely hits the mark. The chicken is saucy and rich, slow cooked in the oven with onions and garlic, but it’s the freshly made coleslaw that will really make your taste buds tingle. The jalapenos add the heat, the cilantro cools things down, and a squeeze of zesty, fresh lime helps bring out all the brightness and vibrancy of these flavorful ingredients.

Flowers? Chocolates? Giant stuffed teddy bears? Try something new this Valentine’s Day and get creative in the kitchen with these Soft Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Strawberry Icing. The cookies are sweet and simple, with the smooth taste of vanilla, and the icing is homemade with fresh strawberries to give it that gorgeous pink shade. Delectable and so very pretty, these cookies are the perfect way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day.

Everyone loves a slice of pizza, but if you have a gluten allergy or wheat intolerance, ordering take out can be difficult. So why not make your own at home? Not only is this cauliflower crust delicious, it’s also completely gluten and grain free! And with a zesty homemade sauce and gourmet toppings like caramelized onions, crispy bacon, arugula, and creamy mozzarella, you’ll be glad you skipped delivery and made your own!

Meatballs aren’t just for putting on top of spaghetti, and these Ginger Hoisin Meatballs with Thai Peanut Sauce might just become your new favorites. For a filling and comforting dish, these rich and saucy meatballs are delicious over a bed of jasmine or basmati rice, but with Super Bowl weekend upon us, they can just as easily be made as a pre-game appetizer, perfect for the hungriest sports fan. Simply serve the meatballs freshly cooked from the oven with the sauce on the side for dipping.

When you’re trying to please the whole family with dinner, this chili is a sure fire way to bring everyone to the table. It’s full of delicious vegetables, loaded with savory meats, and packs a bit of a punch with its rich and fiery blend of spices. It’s good enough to become your go to recipe for chili, and it’s easy enough to make again and again. Best of all, it’s totally customizable, so you can play around with different veggies and meats, and try it milder or hotter depending on your taste preference.

Weekends are a great time for a leisurely family breakfast. Skip the complicated recipes and impress your clan with this decadent and gourmet breakfast that can be prepared the night before but will look like fine dining in the morning! This breakfast will look and taste like you spent hours making it, and better yet, will fill your kitchen with the delicious aroma of sugar and spice and wonderful winter baking.

The holiday season means work parties, potlucks, and family gatherings filled with an abundance of baked goods and high-calorie treats. If you’re looking for a new recipe to become your go-to option for any occasion, this pasta salad is it. Not only is this a dish you can throw together in no time and easily make for the masses, it’s also a great healthier option that doesn’t compromise on fresh, delicious flavor, and it’s so tasty that you’ll probably have your friends and family begging you for the recipe!

On those winter days when it feels cold and dreary and you just want to escape to a tropical island, try our recipe for Chili-Lime Chicken instead! It requires minimal time and effort, but will make your taste buds come alive with the flavors of zesty lime, creamy avocado, crunchy radish, cilantro, and a little added chili heat for good measure. It’s a versatile meal that can just as easily be served up on a bed of fresh greens for lunch or over a bowl of brown or wild rice for dinner.

After a long day of work, sometimes cooking dinner is the last thing you want to do; thankfully, this one-pan oven meal gives you the delicious flavor you crave with very little hassle. It doesn’t require any fancy knife skills or a lot of culinary prowess, so it’s a good choice for the cook who loves to make great-tasting food without having to follow complex recipes. This dish is simple and rustic, a warm and comforting meal that’s packed with the rich, bold flavors of roasted garlic, fresh rosemary, and tart lemon.

Crunchy and sugar-coated on the outside with a warm, gooey apple filling, these bite-sized beauties are treats no one could resist. With a spiced apple filling, these indulgent little parcels are packed with flavor and make perfect finger food for a holiday party. Or try serving them at home warm with ice cream for an extra indulgence on a cold winter night!

Autumn is the perfect time to make soup. The air is growing cool and crisp, the leaves are changing colors, and as winter draws closer, we yearn for savory, warm, and filling fare. No doubt you’ve seen the grocery stores full of pumpkins and gourds and squashes, and now is the time to try this simple butternut squash soup recipe that is just bursting with wholesome ingredients and delicious flavor.

There are many varieties of butternut squash soup, but this recipe has a rich and complex flavor: tart green apple to balance out the sweetness of the squash, a touch of cayenne to give some heat, and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to give it that warm and comforting taste of autumn – the taste that just makes you want to eat it while curled up in front of a roaring fire, watching red and gold leaves slowly drifting off the trees outside.

Forgo the fuss this Thanksgiving with this super simple four ingredient cranberry sauce with a kick. Adding a touch of freshly ground ginger spices up this sauce and makes for a delicious adaptation of a Thanksgiving classic.

NORTH WOODS HEARTY POT ROAST

There’s nothing like a delicious, hearty beef pot roast to evoke the comforts of home. The keys to successful braising – also known as pot roasting – are low heat and a tightly covered pan to achieve unbelievable tenderness. And be sure to include the browning step as it packs a bonus layer of flavor.

This week's recipe features lean Certified Angus Boneless Chuck Roast which is on sale for $3.49 lb. through Wednesday, November 6. Pot roasts from the chuck are perfect for braising, a moist heat cooking method that tenderizes the meat. In addition to the mouthwatering results, beef pot roasts are a nutrient-rich source of 10 essential vitamins and minerals, including protein.

Pumpkins are all around us, and there’s a chill in the air. That means Halloween is fast approaching! Short on time with all the costume making and party preparations? Never fear – this week’s recipe delivers on flavor and convenience. Whip it up in no time flat – with the help of a box mix, we confess, but you don’t have to share that little secret!

If you or someone you love follows a Gluten-Free diet, you won’t want to miss this amazing event! Today at the Highland Park Sunset Foods, we’re hosting a Gluten-Free Expo with over 40 gluten-free vendors. Stop by and sample some of their delicious products – and pick up favorites to take home.

While preparing for the expo, we thought what could be better than to experiment with some of these vendors products in our kitchen? We were thrilled with the results – and we are certain you will be too! This week’s recipe was easy to whip up and made the entire kitchen smell phenomenal! And would you believe, it’s gluten-free and vegan?!

Every year around this time, we wish we lived closer to Germany so we could celebrate the 16-day-long festival of beer, sausage and pretzels that is Oktoberfest.

If you can’t jet off to Germany, we’ve got the next best thing right here. This week, the chefs at Sunset Foods show you how easy it is to whip up a batch of soft and delicious pretzels in your own kitchen. Serve with your favorite mustard and beer, and you’ll be transported across the ocean.

Fall is here, folks, and that means football season! We love game day Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a perfect excuse to feast on our favorite bar snacks, while drinking our favorite beers. If only there was a bar with our favorite couch and chairs…

Popular

We’re kicking off a new weekend cheese tasting series that offers the opportunity to learn about dozens of delectable cheeses while getting the chance to sample them all.
This series is much more than...

At Sunset Foods, Labor Day means lobster! After all, what better way to reward the efforts of those who work than by serving them sweet, tender, and succulent lobster?
Just in time for the holiday wee...